Master Oogway - A Lot of Music About Everything
Nice Things Records, 2023
Håvard N. Funderud - guitar
Lauritz Heitmann Skeidsvoll - saxophone
Martin Heggli Mellem - drums
Karl Erik Horndalsveen - bass
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During the last few years Master Oogway has worked extensively with their music in a live format. The quartet has invited different guest musicians, composed and improvised new music in several different aesthetics and directions. This way Master Oogway has evolved from being a jazz/rock band to an ever changing and creative phenomenon. The live format is where Master Oogway’s music comes most alive, and this is the spirit they brought into Athletic Sound studio during the recording sessions of A Lot of Music About Everything. The quartet wanted to preserve their live energy, while utilizing the tools provided in a studio environment. With the expertise of sound engineer Dag Erik Johansen, A Lot of Music About Everything has become Master Oogway’s most gnarly, loudest and dirtiest album so far!
«Mostly, though, Master Oogway seem engaged in high-stakes woodshedding, challenging each other on hairpin turns designed to end in crash collision, as with ‘Three Parallel Endings’’s squelching pile-up.» - Nick Hasted
Birth of Pop - Birth of Pop (EP)
Nice Things Records, 2023
Håvard N. Funderud - guitar
Tore Ljøkelsøy - drums and fiddle
Ben Rodney - trumpet, production
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The improvising trio of Tore Ljøkelsøy, Ben Rodney and Håvard Nordberg Funderud investigates the odd format of drums, fiddle, trumpet and guitar. The trio's non-hierarchical improvisation has lead to long pieces of music, heavily processed by Ben Rodney.
FULL COMMUNITY - FULL COMMUNITY
Nice Things Records, 2023
Amalie Dahl, sax (I, II, III, VI)
Maria Dybbroe, sax (II, VI, V)
Lauritz Skeidsvoll, sax (not II)
Sigurd Skogdal, trombone
Ben Rodney, trumpet (VI, V)
Håvard Nordberg Funderud, guitar (+compostions, mix, master)
Viktor Bomstad, guitar (not II)
Liv Andrea Hauge, piano (II)
Petter Asbjørnsen, bass (not II)
Henrik Sandstad Dalen, bass (+artwork)
Patrycja Wybranczyk, drums (II, IV, V)
Jomar Jeppsson Søvik, drums (I, III, VI)
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The substantial live album ‘FULL COMMUNITY’ presents six excerpts from concert recordings produced in 2022 by the newly formed group of the same name. ‘FULL COMMUNITY’ gives testimony to the same ideas and motivations that Nice Things Records was founded on - the importance of expressing your creative spirit and participating in your community.
Master Oogway with Henriette Eilertsen - Happy Village
Rune Grammofon, 2022
Håvard Nordberg Funderud - guitar, Lauritz L. Skeidsvoll - saxophone, Martin Mellem - drums,Karl Erik E. Horndalsveen - bass, Henriette Eilertsen - flute
Nominated for Norwegian Grammy 2022!
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Live recording from a series of concerts at Kafé Hærverk in Oslo. Master Oogway was joined by various guests each month throughout half a year.
“'Whispering Townsfolk' defines the project, as this sometimes wayward gathering rises again, and Funderud's grittily grained solo is shadowed by bass and shaped by the sax's counterpoint. Eilertsen's flute is an intrinsic, ensemble sound by this point, as Master Oogway make a night of focused adventure´s final exploratory, spiky patrols.”
Jazzwise (UK)
Martin h. Mellem’s - One and Two
Nice Things Records, 2022
Håvard Nordberg Funderud - guitar, Aksel Rønning - saxophone, Martin Mellem - drums, Karl Erik E. Horndalsveen - bass, Hans P. Kjorstad - violin
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Live recording from Herr Nilsen, Oslo.
One and Two is the cheerful debut album of innovative Norwegian drummer and composer Martin h. Mellem. His explosive approach has contributed to the rise of many high energy bands such as Master Oogway and Bear Brother, as well as the low-key Ototoi. He is a familiar sight on the Scandinavian jazz and improvised music scene.
This album, a live recording from October 2021, comprises the two tracks “One and” and “Two”. A stellar group performance by Mellem, Håvard Nordberg Funderud (guitar), Aksel Rønning (sax, flute), Karl Erik Horndalsveen (double bass) and Hans P. Kjorstad (violin) makes this debut a remarkable listening experience.
Master Oogway - Earth And Other Worlds
Rune Grammofon, 2020
Håvard Nordberg Funderud - guitar, Lauritz L. Skeidsvoll - saxophone, Martin Mellem - drums,Karl Erik E. Horndalsveen - bass
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“Across a series of flamboyant tunes, Håvard Nordberg Funderud's highly mobile electric guitar digs deep into the surging bass and drums propelling the album. When combined with Lauritz Skeidsvoll's sax, the sparks really fly. Fans of Krokofant, Grand General and the current incarnation of Soft Machine should embrace and welcome this vigorous set.”
Prog (UK)
Rowland´s EVIL JAZZ TRIO - DEATH MACHINE
Creative Scources, 2019
Håvard N. Funderud - guitar, Henrik Sandstad Dalen - bass, Roland Galewicz - drums
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“Det denne trioen gir oss er beintøff, spennende, annerledes og totalt kompromissløs musikk i en rekke grenseland. De forteller oss at de har kommet langt allerede, men at potensialet er stort når det gjelder å nå hur langt som helst i åra som kommer. Saker!”
Tor Hammerø
Master Oogway - The Concert Koān
Clean Feed, 2018
Håvard Nordberg Funderud - guitar, Lauritz L. Skeidsvoll - saxophone, Martin Mellem - drums,Karl Erik E. Horndalsveen - bass
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“Master Oogway er et band med mye spennende i sekken og byr oss på jazz for rockere og rock for jazzere som kan varme i en sur høstkveld.”
Tor Hammerø